Cationic and Nonionic Surfactant Cleansing Composition

ABSTRACT

An aqueous cleansing composition comprising a cationic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and a thickener comprising an alkoxylated methyl glucose ether, wherein a weight ratio of cationic surfactant to nonionic surfactant is greater than 0.9:1. The combination of the cationionic:nonionic surfactant ratio with the alkoxylated methyl glucose ether thickener provides the composition with cold weather stability. Cold weather stability is observed when the composition remains transparent after cold storage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/032,503, filed on Jul. 11, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/049,089, filed on Feb. 21, 2016, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,179,100, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/690,320, filed on Apr. 17 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,265,714,which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 365(c) of InternationalPatent Application No. PCT/US2013/061801, filed Sep. 26, 2013, theentireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Cationic surfactants can provide antibacterial properties to a cleansingcomposition. When cationic surfactants are mixed with nonionicsurfactants, there is generally a need to use thickeners to increase theviscosity to a level that is expected by consumers for a cleansingcomposition, such as a liquid hand soap or body wash. While polyacrylatethickeners can increase the viscosity, they can make the cleansingcomposition opaque or translucent. It would be desirable to provide acleansing composition containing cationic and nonionic surfactants thatis transparent.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An aqueous cleansing composition comprising a cationic surfactant, anonionic surfactant, and a thickener comprising an alkoxylated methylglucose ether, wherein a weight ratio of cationic surfactant to nonionicsurfactant is greater than 0.9:1.

The combination of the cationionic:nonionic surfactant ratio with thealkoxylated methyl glucose ether thickener provides the composition withcold weather stability. Cold weather stability is observed when thecomposition remains transparent after cold storage.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each andevery value that is within the range. Any value within the range can beselected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references citedherein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In theevent of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and thatof a cited reference, the present disclosure controls.

Unless otherwise specified, all percentages and amounts expressed hereinand elsewhere in the specification should be understood to refer topercentages by weight. The amounts given are based on the active weightof the material.

For the purpose of calculating a cationic surfactant to nonionicsurfactant ratio, cationic surfactant does not include a cationicantibacterial agent selected from the group consisting of benzalkoniumchloride, benzethonium chloride, and mixtures thereof. While thesematerials may function as a cationic surfactant, they are not includedin the calculation.

Transparency is defined as the ability to read 12-point font through thecomposition contained in a 4 oz clear, glass sample bottle of 4 cmthickness. Transparency is measured after 24 hours at 4.5° C.

Viscosity is measured using a Brookfield RVT viscometer with spindle #5at 25 rpm at 25° C.

The composition includes a cationic surfactant. The cationic surfactantcan be any cationic surfactant, but it excludes the cationic bacterialagent for weight ratio calculation. In certain embodiments, the cationicsurfactant comprises a quaternary ammonium alkyl salt. The quaternaryammonium alkyl salt can be an alkyltrimethylammonium salts. The salt canbe a halide, such as chloride or bromide, or a methosulfate. The alkylcan be a C8-C24 alkyl or a C14-C18 alkyl. In certain embodiments, thecationic surfactant is cetyltrimethylammonium chloride.

In certain embodiments, the cationic surfactant is present in an amountof 0.1 to 20 weight % of the composition. In other embodiments, theamount is 0.1 to 10, 0.1 to 5, 0.5 to 10, 0.5 to 5, 1 to 5, or 2 to 4weight %.

The composition includes a nonionic surfactant. The nonionic surfactantscan be any nonionic surfactant. Nonionic surfactants include, but arenot limited to, amine oxides, fatty acid amides, ethoxylated fattyalcohols, block copolymers of polyethylene glycol and polypropyleneglycol, glycerol alkyl esters, alkyl polyglucosides, polyoxyethyleneglycol octylphenol ethers, sorbitan alkyl esters, polyoxyethylene glycolsorbitan alkyl esters, and mixtures thereof. Examples of amine oxidesinclude, but are not limited to, laurylamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide,myristylamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide, and mixtures thereof. Examplesof fatty acid amides include, but are not limited to,cocomonoethanolamide, lauramide monoethanolamide, cocodiethanolamide,and mixtures thereof.

In certain embodiments, the nonionic surfactant is a combination of anamine oxide and a fatty acid amide. In certain embodiments, the amineoxide is a mixture of laurylamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide andmyristylamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide. In certain embodiments, thenonionic surfactant is a combination of lauryl/myristylamidopropyldimethylamine oxide and cocomonoethanolamide.

In certain embodiments, the nonionic surfactant is present in an amountof 0.1 to 20 weight % of the composition. In other embodiments, theamount is 0.1 to 10, 0.1 to 5, 0.5 to 10, 0.5 to 5, or 0.5 to 3 weight%.

The composition has a cationic:nonionic weight ratio greater than 0.9:1.Optionally, the ratio is at least 1:1.

In certain embodiments, the composition does not contain an anionicsurfactant.

The composition also includes a thickener comprising an alkoxylatedmethyl glucose ether. The alkoxylation can be ethoxylated and/orpropoxylated. In certain embodiments, it is ethoxylated. The degree ofalkoxylation can be any degree that provides thickening. In certainembodiments, the degree of alkoxylation is 100 to 200. In certainembodiments, the alkoxylation is 120 to 150. The alkoxylated methylglucose ether can be esterified with fatty acid. In certain embodiments,the alkoxylated methyl glucose ether at least one of an alkoxylatedmethyl glucose dioleate, an alkoxylated methyl glucose trioleate,alkoxylated methyl glucose distearate. In certain embodiments, thealkoxylated methyl glucoside is at least one of PEG-120 methyl glucosedioleate, PEG-120 methyl glucose trioleate, PEG-120 methyl glucosedistearate. In certain embodiments, the alkoxylated methyl glucose etheris PEG-120 methyl glucose dioleate.

The thickener can be present in any amount to provide any desiredviscosity level. In certain embodiments, the thickener is present in anamount of 0.1 to 2 weight % of the composition. In other embodiments,the amount is 0.1 to 1, 0.2 to 1, 0.3 to 1, 0.4 to 1, 0.1 to 0.9, 0.1 to0.8, 0.1 to 0.7, 0.3 to 0.8, or 0.4 to 0.8 weight %. In one embodiment,the amount is 0.4 to 0.7 weight %. In certain embodiments, the viscosityis at least 1000 mPas. In other embodiments, the viscosity is at least2000, at least 3000, or at least 4000 mPas. In certain embodiments, theviscosity is 1000 to 20000, 3000 to 6000, or 3500 to 5000 mPas.

In certain embodiments, the composition does not include a polyacrylatethickener.

The composition can include a cationic antibacterial agent selected fromthe group consisting of benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride,and mixtures thereof. In certain embodiments, the composition includesbenzalkonium chloride. These cationic antibacterial agents can beincluded in their regulatory amount, which can be 0.13 weight %.

The composition is aqueous. In certain embodiments, water can beincluded in an amount of 70 to 95 weight % of the composition. In otherembodiments, the amount of water is 90 to 95 weight %.

In certain embodiments, the composition can further include salt, suchas sodium chloride to assist in increasing viscosity at upper ranges ofviscosity. In certain embodiments, the salt is present at 0.1 to 1.2weight % of the composition. In certain embodiments, the amount is about0.6 weight %.

The cleansing compositions can be used to cleanse skin by washing skinwith the cleansing composition and optionally rinsing with water.

Examples

The examples and comparative examples are made by mixing of thematerials. The compositions are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below. Theexamples list the cationic:nonionic surfactant ratio. The viscosity andthe transparency after storage at 4.5° C. are measured.

TABLE 1 Material Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Deionized Water andminors QS QS QS Lauryl/Myristylamidopropyl 1.68 1.68 0.6 dimethylamineoxide Cocomonoethanolamide 0.92 1.02 0.4 Cetrimonium chloride 2.75 2.5 3Benzalkonium chloride 0.13 0.13 0.13 PEG 120 Methyl Glucose 0.54 0.60.54 Dioleate Glycerin 2 2 2 Sodium chloride 0.62 0.62 0.62Cationic:Nonionic 1.06:1 0.92:1 3:1 surfactant ratio Transparency aftercold Clear Clear Clear storage Viscosity (mPas) 4340 4740 5210

TABLE 2 Material Comparative A Comparative B Comparative C Comparative DDeionized Water and minors QS QS QS QS Lauryl/Myristylamidopropyl 1.681.51 1.68 2 dimethylamine oxide Cocomonoethanolamide 1.1 1.12 1.12 1Cetrimonium chloride 2.25 2.25 2.25 1 Benzalkonium chloride 0.13 0.130.13 0.13 PEG 120 Methyl Glucose 0.66 0.66 0.54 0.6 Dioleate Glycerin 22 2 2 Sodium chloride 0.62 0.62 0.62 0.62 Cationic:Nonionic 0.81:10.85:1 0.80:1 0.33:1 surfactant ratio Transparency after cold Hazy HazyHazy Hazy storage Viscosity (mPas) 4600 4000 4340 4470

As can be seen in the examples, the combination of the PEG-120 methylglucose dioleate and the cationic:nonionic surfactant ratio provides acomposition that is clear after cold storage and has a desired viscosityover 4000 mPas. When PEG-120 methyl glucose dioleate is present in allcompositions, a desired viscosity is obtained, but when thecationic:nonionic surfactant ratio is less than 0.9 in the comparativeexamples, the composition is hazy after cold storage.

1. An aqueous cleansing composition comprising a cationic surfactant, anonionic surfactant, and a thickener comprising an alkoxylated methylglucose ether, wherein a weight ration of cationic surfactant tononionic surfactant is greater than 0.9:1.
 2. The cleansing compositionof claim 1 further comprising a cationic antibacterial agent selectedfrom the group consisting of benzalkonium chloride, benzethoniumchloride, and mixtures thereof.
 3. The cleansing composition of claim 2,wherein the cationic antibacterial agent is benzalkonium chloride. 4.The cleansing composition of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio ofcationic surfactant to nonionic surfactant is at least 1:0.
 5. Thecleansing composition of claim 1, wherein the thickener is analkoxylated methyl glucose ether esterified with fatty acid.
 6. Thecleansing composition of claim 1, wherein the thickener is at least oneof an alkoxylated methyl glucose dioleate, an alkoxylated methyl glucosetrioleate, and alkoxylated methyl glucose distearate.
 7. The cleansingcomposition of claim 1, wherein the thickener is ethoxylated.
 8. Thecleansing composition of claim 1, wherein the thickener has a degree ofethoxylation of 100 to
 200. 9. The cleaning composition of claim 1,wherein the thickener is selected from the group consisting of PEG-120methyl glucose dioleate, PEG-150 distearate, and mixtures thereof. 10.(canceled)
 11. The cleansing composition of claim 1, wherein thecationic surfactant comprises a quaternary ammonium alkyl salt such ascetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride.
 12. (canceled)
 13. The cleansingcomposition of claim 1, wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises atleast one surfactant chosen from an amine oxide and fatty acid amide.14. The cleansing composition of claim 1, wherein the nonionicsurfactant comprises lauryl/myristyl amidopropyl dimethylamine oxide andcocomonoethanolamide.
 15. The cleansing composition of claim 1, whereinthe thickener is present in an amount of 0.1 to 2 weight % of thecomposition, optionally 0.1 to 1 weight %.
 16. The cleansing compositionof claim 1, wherein the cationic surfactant is present in an amount of0.1 to 20 weight % of the composition, optionally 0.5 to 5 weight %. 17.The cleansing composition of claim 1, wherein the nonionic surfactant ispresent in an amount of 0.1 to 20 weight % of the composition,optionally 0.5 to 5 weight %.
 18. The cleansing composition of claim 1,wherein an amount of water is 70 to 95 weight % of the composition. 19.The cleaning composition of claim 1 further comprising a salt,optionally in an amount of 0.1 to 1.2 weight % of the composition. 20.The cleansing composition of claim 1, wherein the composition does notcontain a polyacrylate.
 21. The cleansing composition of claim 1,wherein the composition is transparent after 24 hours at 4.5° C.
 22. Amethod of cleansing skin comprising washing skin with the cleansingcomposition of claim 1, and optionally rinsing with water.